Govt offers subsidy for farm equipment

Chandigarh, May 5

To encourage mechanised transplantation or direct sowing of paddy and cultivation of maize, the state government has decided to provide subsidy up to 50 per cent on machinery used for this purpose, which will benefit the state in saving groundwater and help the farmers in tackling the problem of labour scarcity amid Covid-19 restrictions.

Kahan Singh Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture, said 50 per cent subsidy would be provided to women or those belonging to the SC category and 40 per cent to other farmers.

He said farmers had been asked to submit their applications to avail the benefit till May 10. He said the machinery on which subsidy would be given included direct seeding of rice machines with or without spray attachment, paddy nursery sowing machines, transplanting machines and equipment used for maize sowing, threshing and drying. The farmers could get information at 1800-180-1551 of kisan call centre. — TNS